Improvement in the construction of plows



J. GOR'HAM.

Shovel-Plow.

Patented May 5. 1857.

N, FUERS, PHOTO-L THOGRAP UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACKSON GORHAM, OF BAIBDSTOWN, GEORGIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF .PLOWS.

i Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 17,212, dated May 5, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACKSON GORHAM, of Bairdstown, in the county of Oglethorpe and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Construction of Flows; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in

Figure l is a side view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a back View of the same. Fig.3 is a horizontal section of the box at the upper end of the foot-piece, and a portion of the beam on which the box is placed or fitted.

w as, Fig. 1, indicate the plane of section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to an improvementin the construction of that class of plows that are generally known as shovel or mattoek plows.

The invention consists in the peculiar manner of attaching the foot-piece to the beam, and also the manner of attaching the helve or brace to the foot-piece, as will be hereinafter fully shown and described.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents the beam of the plow. This beam is constructed of wood, and is of taper form, at least at its back part, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The beam transversely is of rectangular form, as shown in Fig. 2.

B represents the foot-piece, which is con structed of iron, cast or wrought. .Malleable cast-iron, however, will be probably used. The foot-piece is of slightly curved form,as plainly shown in Fig. l, and a rectangular box, a, is placedat its upper end, said box being internallyof slight taper l'orm,correspondin g to the taper of the beam A. The box a is cast with the foot-piece, and the said box is fitted on the beam A and driven or forced back thereon till it is fitted snugly upon it. By this means the foot-plece is firmly secured to the beam without the aid of bolts, keys, or other devices. The lower end of the foot-piece B, at its back side, has two flanges, b 1), formed or cast with it. These flanges are not parallel with each other. Their outer ends are nearer together than their inner ends, and the lower ends of theflanges maybe a trifle nearer together-than their upper ends. (See Fig. 2.)

0 represents a wooden brace, the lower end of which is cut in dovetailform to correspond to the form of the space between the flangesb b. The upper end of the-brace O is fitted in the cross-piece c of the two handles D D, and the lower end is fitted between the two flanges b b.

E represents the share, the upper end of- By attaching the lower end of the brace to the foot-piece, as shown, the bolt d may be removed and different shares adjusted to the foot-piece without having the brace disconnected from the foot-piece, as the flanges b I will hold the brace when the bolt is withdrawn.

By this mode of construction a strong and cheap plow is obtained. The foot-piece B weighs about twelve pounds, and may be obtained for about sixty cents, and the cost of the woodwork is about fifty cents, the total cost being about one dollar and ten cents.

The implement has been practically tested and works well in every respect. It does not clog. It is of easy or light draft, and the footpiece being narrow and light, the implement may be readily controlled and the share made to pass near the cotton or other plants without danger of plowing them out.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The foot-piece B, having a box, a, at its up per end and .the two flanges b b at its lower end, as shown, for the purpose of securing the foot-piece to the beam and the lower end of the brace C to the foot-piece,as herein shown and described.

JACKSON GORHAM.

Witnesses WILLIAM O. CHENEY, THOMAS CALLAHAN. 

